Suit of the Week: Banana Republic Factory

For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.

This suit from Banana Republic Factory looks fabulous — I love the sleeved dress with subtle ruching at the neckline, the classic one-button blazer, and the fact that there are matching pants and a pencil skirt. The fact that every piece is below $65 is an added bonus! It’s machine washable, and most pieces are available in regular sizes 0-14 (verrry lucky petite sizes available as well).

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I love it also! I just asked the manageing partner earlier for rembursment on another outfit, so I will not be able to show him this one today. If I must wait until tomorrow, I will do so, b/c this is really cute! I love the color! YAY!!!

Clueless first time home-buyer in the Boston area looking for help. Looking to buy a two-bed(+) in Cambridge and/or Arlington and/or Medford, as soon as this summer (June is the earliest that we can make the move). We are temporarily living far away from Boston and won’t be back until June, but in the interim, we are trying to figure out the logistics of this process. What steps can we take this winter/spring to get ready? Any financial advice with respect to pre-approval? What pit-falls should we look out for? Do we need to hire a realtor? If so, when, and does anyone have local recommendations? How long should we expect this process to take? I know we will need a temporary month-to-month rental while we start looking in June, but just not sure how long we should expect to stay there. Thanks in advance for any guidance!

Get pre-approved, hire a realtor, expect it to be more complicated/take longer than you think. Notes: pre-approval is not the same as approval. We got pre-approved easily but approval can be more complicated, particularly if you have any potential issues like you’re in your job for less than 2 years, etc. Ask around for broker recommendations. A lot of them are not great but a good one is essential, esp. in your situation. I tend to think that someone who has been at this a while is going to be better? It’s a transient profession so I think if someone’s done it for 20 years, it tells you they (may) know what they’re doing. One idea – you may be able to find short term summer sublets and then re-assess your situation from there (assuming you can put furniture in storage).

I had a fantastic experience looking in a similar set of locations with Joe Stallone about 5 years ago. I just checked, he is still working, and his website says he has experience with relocation. I was a first-time home buyer then, he held my hand through the process and explained everything. I love my house, and I love the location.

The markets in those towns are HOT right now, and for a lot of the surrounding communities as well. I think you should either come prepared to bid over the asking price, or to be looking for quite some time before you find the right house at the right price and get an offer accepted. I have friends who have been looking 8+ months in the metrowest area. Coming in pre-approved would be a big benefit.

The market is really hot. When you start to put together your budget, assume places you are looking at in those areas will sell 5-20% over asking (depends a lot on your pricepoint). For example, things listed at $400 may sell at $440-480 so if your budget is $400 look at homes listed at $350.

We sold our Boston-adjacent home a few years ago. We listed on a Saturday at $430 and on Monday we had 5+ offers, several all cash, all at or above listing. So you don’t lose hope, We actually ended up taking a couple that had a mortgage contingency- they offered slightly above asking but were living with a set of parents so totally flexible on dates.

We bought further out in the burbs (Concord) and while not quite as hot, the good homes here go very very quickly so you have to know what you want and make yourself attractive to the buyer. A good agent that knows the market and the local agents (who are the selling agents) was critical for us.

If anyone would like to vicariously vacation plan, I’m looking for a place to go for 3-4 days in May or June with my husband (without kids). Criteria:

Within a 4-5 hour flight of Northern California But not IN Northern California (i.e., nowhere we can easily drive) Not any warmer than home (i.e., not more than 85 degrees or so if possible) Somewhere with the ability to either walk/wander a ton (pretty walkable town or city) or hike Somewhere I can eat out basically every meal and don’t have to cook/worry about logistics Not exorbitantly expensive

Basically, I’d love the idea of going to a National or State Park or somewhere similar, maybe with a cute town or city to spend a day or two nearby, but I don’t want to sleep on the ground or worry about gear or grocery shop or cook. Also I’ll likely be pregnant with #2 so nothing winery- or skydiving-related or similar.

I’m feeling Yellowstone or Jackson Hole from what you describe. Jackson is adorable and will have plenty of places to stay and eat. West Yellowstone (practically in shouting distance of the park) would be good too. Neither are going to be above 85 in May, lol, so I would shoot for late May/early June. The flights might be somewhat tricky, as Yellowstone and Jackson airports are both pretty small and out-of-the-way. But it’s easily one of the prettiest parts of the country.

I love Jackson Hole, and for what you describe would go there. It’s a short drive to Grand Teton. Last time I was there we drove from Denver and camped though so no specific recs on places to stay or eat.

Toast bread cubes at 300 degrees for about 15 minutes or until crisp (this is in addition to letting them dry for a day).

In a large skillet (I use a large electric skillet — it works best for this recipe), melt butter and add onion and celery. Saute until tender. Add poultry seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper. Combine eggs and broth and add to skillet. Add bread cubes and toss until well combined and bread is well-moistened. Spoon into crock pot. Set on high for one hour and then reduce to low and cook for 1-2 hours.

I double this recipe — Easiest way to do this is to make one batch at a time. If you don’t have an electric skillet, it would probably be easier to make this in a large dutch oven on the stovetop so you can get all the bread cubes mixed in at once. This makes a very moist and flavorful dressing and being that it’s made in a crock pot, it frees up valuable oven space — which we all know is prime real estate when it comes to holiday cooking!

Love this suit it has a smart look to it. I used to wear suits like this from the brand Theory. One thing I didn’t pay attention to was corporate environment. I ended up being the only person in a nice tailored suit everyday! I live in Seattle so it’s very jeans, button-down, apple watch territory